Month: November 2009

From the news this week one would think that all of Jerusalem is divided; religious or secular, right or left, east or west. However, on many Jerusalem streets people do come together and not just in traffic accidents.

Outside the walls of the Old City…thousands of people gather and pass peacefully day after day.

At the Kotel, the Western Wall on Monday or Thursday and certain holidays when 13 year old boys are celebrating their Bar Mitzvahs, invited guests and strangers from all over the world can be found enjoying the celebrations.

Shopping in the Machane Yehuda Market, shuk has for years been a important part of life in Jerusalem.

Ben Yehuda Street

is alive again.

King George and Strauss Streets

in the center of town

and its shops are also busy.

But the modern malls are real competition.

Many buses cross the Jerusalem streets, often riders come together like sardines.

Over and over I have been asked why I started doing this photo blog…it was this scene.

The Bell Park in Jerusalem April, 2009

After I took this photo from just outside the Bell Park, I walked the short distance to the Kotel, the Western Wall. I could not get near, as police security barriers were already set up in early afternoon to keep everyone away, even though the Remembrance Day ceremony was not to take place for hours.

The photo I saw published in the newspapers was of one of men (Arabs?) behind yellow police tape. Seems the papers, certainly in Israel, publish what supports their agenda. I decided instead of being angry, to take candid photos, real street scenes and share them. My hope is that people will appreciate seeing the Real Jerusalem Streets, often the other side of the street from the media, and will share with their friends.

With President Peres in Brazil,

the Prime Minister in United States and France,

and many Israeli officials overseas,

the streets were a bit quieter this week.

The many U.S. congressmen, former President Bill Clinton

and Saban Forum delegates at the King David Hotel

seem to move around in big vans, but with a lot less noise.

The real Jerusalem streets are often traffic nightmares, many of them with the space for donkeys or camels, not the large vehicles of today. Pray you never have a medical emergency in Jerusalem, often even an ambulance cannot get the needed space to move.

Space is always an issue, inside and out. Coming from a ten room house to a four room apartment here was quite an adjustment, utilizing every bit of space is a must. Putting a fish restaurant on top of a garage, what a use of space!

The Ethiopian community’s holiday,

Sigd is now a national holiday.

Thousands of people and buses,

crowded into Jerusalem for Monday’s celebration.

Amazing event!

After the cold and wet weather, we had a few hot days. People came out in droves, even the ants came back from their winter hiding places…and last night more much needed rain.